Motorola uses an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor running at 1GHz and GeForce graphics processor. HTC has opted for the third generation (S3) dual core Qualcomm MSM 8660 running at 1.2GHz with an Adreno 220 GPU. While the Tegra 2 processors are quite powerful, the S3 Snapdragons with the Adreno 220 are the best of the best right now. Not only does it run faster, but since the native speed is actually 1.5GHz we have a feeling there will be much more to get out of them as user development gets underway. We’ve already seen the EVO 3D overclocked to 2GHz before the phone had proper root and an unlocked bootloader. Advantage: EVO 3D.

The EVO 3D has 4GB total with about 1GB available for app storage, whereas the Photon 4G has 16 total, 2.75GB for apps and another 9GB available for general storage. Both phones will accept 32GB microSD.

Interface:

Both the HTC EVO 3D and Motorola Photon 4G run Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but the Photon is slightly newer by being 2.3.4 whereas the EVO 3D is 2.3.3. That matters little as neither support Google Talk video chat. The Photon 4G is running a modified version of Motorola’s “don’t call it Blur” UI and SprintID. You’ll find the same Motorola widgets, the same Motorola skinning of many core apps and the same unified messaging and social networking services as on past Motorola devices. The widgets are ok, the rest we could do without. Thankfully the dock can be customized with three apps of your choice, plus the SprintID app. This lets the user download various skins or themes for the device, but in reality offers little to nothing on a device like this.

The interface of the Motorola Photon 4G

HTC’s Sense continues to be the best Android skin in our opinion, and version 3.0 is better than ever. For starters the lock screen is actually functional, letting the user select four apps that can be launched by dragging them to the unlock ring. Messages, emails and calendar events pop up right on the lock screen as well adding more functionality to it. The overall interface incorporates HTC’s vast portfolio of widgets (over 70 and counting) and their skin goes deep into the UI. Where other manufacturers mostly skin the core apps, HTC Sense actually makes them better than the stock Android experience by adding functionality with an emphasis in interconnectivity. For instance, viewing a contact is a hub for all of the information you need on them: their contact details, Facebook updates and photos, text message and email history and so on. We love some stock Android around here, but if it’s not pure Google then give us HTC Sense.

The HTC
EVO 3D has Sense 3.0 UI running on top of Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread

The better processor and GPU come into play here as well. Despite the much more memory and graphic intensive nature of Sense, the EVO 3D managed to outperform the Photon 4G in real world performance. It’s not that the Photon was slow, it’s just that the EVO 3D managed to be faster while providing a much more graphically rich experience.

1.pandamaja (unregistered)

Can you guys test to see which phone can phone book sync with older Bluetooth 2.x cars? All these phone makers are so quick to rush to the latest tech, Bluetooth 3.x, without really testing for backwards compatibility.

So Qualcomm's S3 Snapdragon processor is THE better chip compared to NVIDIA's Tegra 2. Wow & everyone says that Qualcomm's chips were the worst. I always knew the S3 was a sick chip plus the Adreno 220 GPU is completely bada$s when playing games. I can't wait to get CM7 on my HTC Evo 3D so I can really put the phone through its paces. I really want to overclock the HTC Evo 3D to 1.8 to 2.0 GHz & see that beast really fly. From what I read when the phone is at 1.5 to 1.8 GHz the battery life is not impacted too drastically, but on 2.0 GHz they do see a real battery difference. I just can't wait. I already rooted my phone, now I am waiting to get some sweet ROMS. I am so glad I got the HTC Evo 3D, I have NEVER been more satisfied with a phone. This is a CLEAR WINNER!

Basically if you run Linpack on all of them it clearly shows that in terms of pure oomph, The S3 is actually better than the Exynos. The problem is that Applications must be optimized to make use of its full power, with Exynos and Tegra ll however, both cores are automatically used simultaneously. The Quadrant scores that you and I take on our HTC's rarely exceed 2400 because They are only using one 1.2GHz core. I'm really looking forward to overclocking mine too XD

FINALLY someone who understands. To get a Quadrant score of 2300 to 2400 on 1 core is insane. The Exynos & Tegra 2 chips get higher only on 2 cores. Imagine the Quadrant score if BOTH cores were running at the same time like the Exynos & Tegra 2 chips. Yes HTCiscool, I can't wait for CM7 or MIUI with an overclocked dual-core at 1.5 to 1.8 GHz. Man I am salivating! lol :-) I love HTC phones, their developer support is second to none!

Dude Quadrant doesn't just run one core, it sees the dual-cores of the Exynos, OMAP, & Tegra 2 as 1 core because it hasn't been updated to recognize both cores. Exynos, OMAP, & Tegra 2 use BOTH cores at the same time not 1 core as you said. Qualcomm's S3 Snapdragon is the only chip that uses 1 core at a time & only uses the other core when needed. That is why it's great on battery life. The S3 is an asynchronous dual-core chip, while the Exynos, OMAP, & Tegra 2 are synchronous. Here is a link so you can better understand the difference from asynchronous vs. synchronous multi-core chips.

nah your wrong quadrant uses 1 core on all dual core phones. Why do you s3 users never speak of smartbench 2011 benchmarks, which is known to utilize both chips in all dual cores including the s3. the results are the same, lower benchmarks. Its a good chip but as usual qualcomm is trailing the rest of the pack.

i can't blame you for wishful thinking based on the little bit you know but you need to think for a minute, how is one A8 Scorpion Core as fast as Dual A9 Cores with different kinds of SoC? i understand the Qualcomm MSM8660 (S3) is asynchronous but as you said Quadrant reads both cores as one because it's not calibrated for Dual-Core handsets but it's not like the MSM hides away the other core under lock & key from Quadrant when it does Benchmarks. they all behave as Quadrant wants them to whether it knows it's Dual-Core or not. the MSM8660 simply uses an inferior processor infrastructure which is ARM Cortex-A8 (or was it A7? help me out here remixfa, we just figured it out in another discussion.) whereas the Exynos & the OMAP uses ARM Cortex-A9 processors and i know for a fact the OMAP uses a power management cycle itself without it having to be asynchronous. i mean the proof is in the pudding. the battery life on an LG Optimus 3D or a Galaxy S II isn't so drastically different from an EVO 3D or a Sensation being that they're supposedly running both cores at 100%, 100% of the time the phone is being used. like Alan here from PA says take the scores with a grain of salt because they aren't 100% accurate but from what Quadrant understands phones with OMAP processors and certainly phones with Exynos are faster and that's what you're getting from normal use. the rest is up to how polished the interfaces are which in most cases it is Sense 3 but i've seen for myself evidence of lag on the Sensation.

Hey Thump3rDX17, you know way more about this than I do. I guess what you are saying is these Quadrant scores are NOT 100% correct. What I thought was that the S3 chip (which are underclocked to be 1.2 GHz because it really was a 1.5 GHz chip) would be faster than the newer 1.0 GHz chips from OMAP & Tegra 2. (I excluded the Exynos chip because it is 1.2 GHz & it’s the most powerful one.) I know S3 runs on the A8 technology, but at 1.2 or 1.5 GHz I thought it would be faster than a 1.0 GHz OMAP or Tegra 2 using the newer A9 technology. From what you are saying I guess it’s wrong. So my understanding of the topic was completely wrong. Hey I am a man & I can completely admit that. You can explain things in a manner that doesn’t make me feel stupid. Thank you now I know more about the topic than I did before. That is why I like having discussions with you. You can educate in a positive way, some people would argue with you EVEN if they are wrong. I know when I am right & I also know when I am wrong. My understanding was flawed but now I know better. Thanks for making me see the light! lol :-)

Quadrant is not accurate for representing the full potential of the CPU that would be for Smartbench 2011 and Linpack. Ironically however, the scores on Linpack represent the number of MFLOPS per second, so in essence, its like its performance on paper without any regard to the GPU. Smartbench 2011 and Quadrant, test the GPU as well, this is the part where the S3 lags, the GPU is nothing compared to an Exynos or Hummingbird chip. My conclusion is, Overall Exynos and Tegra ll are better chips with better Graphics processing units, but the S3 excels in terms of pure power. I've seen a desire HD reach over 1900 with its S2 1GHz core. It makes Sense that the Sensation can top it with one 1.2GHz core and an upgraded Graphics unit. and thats what Quadrant reads. Most of you will just yell at me for being a wishful thinking fanboy with a phone with an underpowered processor but I stand my ground.

the S2 and the Hummingbird excelled with their GPU in the Single Core wars. if i did a Quadrant test on say a Droid 2 which has an OMAP3630 processor with GPU as good as what's found on an S2 then theoretically it will be in the 1800-1900 range as well. the S2 wasn't really a bad processor but it came much too late and only came in Devices that were faced with dual-core packing devices either about to be or already on the market. the single core war was dead. i can bet a single, evenly clocked Nvidia, OMAP or Exynos core can score better than an S2 core in a S3 set as they're the newer cores built with A9 processors and better GPU but we're not going to see that happen because the cores in the Nvidia, OMAP & Exynos are brand new and can't be tested as single core SoC. the possibility of Quadrant running a test any differently than an Nvidia, OMAP or an Exynos is highly unlikely because there isn't going to be THAT drastic of a difference between the newer cores in the competitors dual-core chip sets and the S2 cores in the S3 series. the means just isn't there so your theory is really just fantasy because even though we know Quadrant isn't optimized for dual-core phones you can just back track and see the scores of slightly older processors and project what the newer scores will be based on the newer manufacturing methods and GPU that they're equipped with.

40.Kin (unregistered)

i appreciate that you really took the effort to really think about my explanation and not let your pride make you stubborn and ignorant. you know how often people react as such here. thank you, i'm really only trying to help as long as anyone is open to discussion. it doesn't bother me at all when i think someone may be wrong or even when someone proves me wrong it's when people act like annoying d**ks with what they think they know. it's okay, we're all here to learn, i'm still learning a lot myself. this is a tough topic filled with variables.

I know its an old core, idc as long as it can do web browsing and the likes. I have seen lag on my phone when navigating Sense 3.0 however, I don't think they can release Sense 3.5 when 3.0 still isn't optimized. Hopefully the 2.3.4 update will fix that.

it's really not bad at all when you get used to it. i don't even notice it any more but you see Phone Arena themselves say that the Photon's screen looks better than the EVO 3D's and if you won't take their word on that then their praise for the processor may also be in question.

thats funny i did the same with your comment. do some research the new msm 8260, 8660 is the strongest dual core. tegra 2 doesnt even support neon. and if you new anything about snapdragon u would know its not a cortex a8 its closer to a a9. it will do some out of order. raw power when both cores are being used.

i have the photon and its really a dam good phone.i luv HTC but in my heart i all ways liked Moto.the photon is quicker than u think.i like the webtop feature on the phone it is awesome and the dock for it is pretty cool as well just being able to watch netflix on my tv from my phone is a plus.Both phones are the bomb it up to you on which one you want

dude..i get your point, less caps please? xD
yeah, that's pretty much what set apart the EVO 3D and the Photon with me too was the processor and the Webtop capabilities which i see as a more productive feature than gimmicky 3D.

Agreed completely, I love HTC much better as a manufacturer and found no single-core phone to even touch my Evo (not necessarily performance wise, but the overall package HTC presented). The big differentiation in this comparison is that HTC chose to go with a gimmick and Moto chose to pack extras we will actually use into the phone, i.e. 16 GB internal storage (I know only 9 is accessible), the webtop dock functionality, and the kickstand (most don't use it but it's really slow at my store so we'll all sit and watch Netflix on our phones between customers so we like the kickstands). Either way though, I don't know why people are so angry about a comparison between 2 phones. If you don't like the 3D, get the Photon, if you don't like the Photon, get the 3D. There's no need to go on PA and post in forums how your phone is the coolest and neatest phone ever and all others totally suck... They're just freaking cell phones, productivity tools people, quick looking at them as status symbols.

I had both phones, and I can tell you the Evo 3D only was better when it came to going from one home screen to the next. The app home screen on the EVO 3D sucked when it comes to scrolling....the EVO 4G app screen is way better no slowing down like the EVO 3D. Speaker wise everyone knows the EVO 3D has a terrible speaker, and the antenna signal makes you wanna puke....is it obvious that I ditched the smoke and mirrors EVO 3D for the Photon; which if 3D don't matter and you want a phone that works the Photon is the obvious choice

two things sense is way to bloated and makes any htc phone a hastle...It is just too intergrated with everything....HTC needs to scale it back and not make it so resourceful...At least motorola is scaling blur back from what it used to be and that is why it is slowly becoming the better UI...Secondly as already stated the S3 chips are based on the A8 and it is just not as battery sensitive or performance savy as the newwer models....Why does HTC keep using these processors they all suck.....

The Adreno 220 GPU can't even be considered in the same league as the GeForce GPU. I mean, let's just look at how long nVidia has been making GPUs for computers. The biggest difference is going to be when Motorola finally releases the software update that they've been holding onto. It's available on XDA and is ridiculously amazing. My coworker got this phone (we work for Sprint) and he got the software update and I can't even begin to describe how fast this phone flew. Our 3D advocate is quite jealous at how slow his phone runs compared to the Photon with that software release. I do agree that the S3 does allow for much more overclocking, but I honestly don't see many people interested in doing that to their phone. I understand rooting, but risking frying the processor or overheating the phone? I'd rather not, and I'd rather have the phone that's faster out of the box. Oh, and to the individual that mentioned getting CM7 on the 3D and seeing how fast it is? Just wait until Moto unlocks the bootloader on the Photon, then we'll see the raw power of the device without the crippling Moto-nonblur.

42.Reesol (unregistered)

46.RogerPjr (unregistered)

I thought this review was about the individual phones...... The unique features of the HTC were explored a bit. The Uniqueness of the PHOTON, was on the other hand NOT. About the PHOTON: What other phone can be plugged into it's dock which has 3 USB connectors. ONE for mouse, One for Kboard, and a THIRD additional USB ( External HD to oh I dunno...back up / Sync files???) All the while I am watching YouTube / Skyping on my BIG SCREEN, OR Phone calling at this same time. Which is also connected to the dock'c dedicated HDMI. What other publications call futureistic. What was a show-stopper at CES this year. What is all over YOUTUBE about this phone... you choose not to even mention. WHY? MORE THAN CURIOUS WHY NOT!! Oh... does the HTC,LG, SAMMY, SONY, JOB's MOB have ANYTHING as novel yet superuseful as that. Ummm.... ... Ummm. nope.

67.CHARLIE MURPHY (unregistered)

72.deeps (unregistered)

Ummmm what about the faulty casing on the HTC evo? I just got this phone and was disappointed to see a big gap as the battery cover doesn't clasp back seamlessly. I took it back and the second box had the same defect. Manufacturing issue? tsk tsk. Not this on a 600 $ phone you guys....

My HTC Evo 3D replaced my old and worn 4G EVO. At first, it was exactly what i was looking for... a phone with a longer battery life. i was extremley pleased with my new for the first couple of weeks been then the problems started to arise. The phone kept giving me these weird messages system faild and all kinds of weird things. i couldnt txt, couldnt take pictures, couldnt look at my contacts and couldnt use ANY program or app on my phone!!! All i could do was answer phone calls. i must say, i have never been more disappointed in my LIFE. This has occured 4 times in the past year that ive owned this device. but last friday i experienced a problem that sent me over the edge, and nearly drove me mad... The phone began to randomly call people txt people and start applications on its own. i was terrified. when i troed to send txt messages my letter A, L T and my ?,! and & would not function properly. then the phone began to freeze and do a number of other displeasing functions. Today i went to sprint and orderd my Motorola PHOTON 4G. i didnt care what i had to do to get rid of that dissapointing device.to any one who is looking ino this phone i would highly encourage you to think twice about your decision. i promise you will be disappointed and be left unhappy. Although the hone itself is quite attractive dont let its looks deceive you.

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